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Sugar Glider Pet Shop – How to Choose a Sugar Glider

When thinking about getting a sugar glider for a pet, the best place to look is a glider pet shop. This is because a pet shop is most likely to provide particular attention to the animals, ensuring that they are completely healthy prior to purchase.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that just choosing any glider out of those available would do. It is crucial that the buyer is aware of what to look out for in the marsupial to ensure its health.

That being said, following are some tips on how to choose the healthiest specimen in a sugar glider pet shop.

Size and Appearance – Your pet should weigh around 3 to 5.5 ounces and measures up to 21 centimeters depending on its gender. Make sure that the animal sports normal weight and length characteristics prior to purchase. Like most furry animals, the coat of the baby glider should be thick, shiny and clean with their large eyes bright and clear.

Cage and Activity – These exotic pets can be very active and need enough space for exercise and socializing. Opt for the animals that are most active as this show that he or she is healthy. Check the cage in the pet station to see if it is well maintained. A good breeder would never let the animals live in an unkempt environment as this could become a health risk. The cage should be adequately sized, contains nest and more of a bird cage than an aquarium tank.

Check Credentials – Most pet shop owners have the right credentials to sell or even breed exotic pets. However, it doesn’t hurt to verify this information either by asking directly or checking the list of International Sugar Glider Association through their website. While there, it might also be a good idea to check if the state one is staying in is allowed to have these animals in captivity. Good breeders should also be able to answer any questions put forward by the buyer.

Food – What exactly is the pet shop feeding them? This is important as a glider has very particular tastes and only eats some of the freshest food types available. By knowing this information, buyers can simply continue the type of diet they are being given in the shop. Note that pellets are dangerous for these marsupials so if the seller claims that it is what they are being fed, try looking for a different pet shop.

Find a Good Vet Prior to buying any exotic animal. Make sure that there is an exotic vet available in the area. These pets may have some issues that only a vet would be able to solve especially since gliders are exotic.

Warning:

Make sure to purchase more than one specimen from a sugar glider pet shop. These marsupials are actually very social creatures and would usually stop eating if left alone. Hence, be prepared to take care of more than one glider.